Directions:Using the dishcloth baby
afghan
pattern, cast on 2 stitches.Row 1: Increase in
both stitches (4 stitches).Row 2: Knit 2, yarn
over (yo), knit 2 (5 stitches).Row 3: Knit 2, yo,
knit across row (note: knit in the back of every yo stitch to make
“hole”
larger) (6 stitches).Repeat
row 3, increasing 1 stitch on every row, until one side of the triangle
you are creating is at least 15” long
(for
me this was 72 stitches).For
small preemie size (12”), this goes up to 60 stitches.For
tiny preemie size, work up to 50 stitches (10”).

Make one blanket as above.Make one half a blanket by
increasing to 72 stitches (or 60 stitches for 12”, or 50 stitches for
10”),
doing the two even rows, and bind off (makes a triangle).

Assembly instructions:Lay the triangle on top of
the blanket, in the diamond shape, with the points of the triangle
closest
to you. This forms a “pocket” or “hood”. Cut 4 strips of
ribbon
in 36” (30” for small, or 24” for tiny size) lengths, and matching the
“holes” of the two blanket pieces, weave the ribbons through the holes
from one corner to the next, making sure the ribbon lays flat. Do
this for all four sides, even the ones without the top piece, leaving
lengths
at each corner and evening them out after the weaving is done.
Tie
the two ends into a bow at each corner. Use fray check to make
sure
the ends of the ribbon don’t fray.

Lay flat with “pocket” on
top
and use a length of yarn and blunt needle to “sew” the two pieces
together
about 7” (6” for small, 4” for tiny) in from one side corner, sewing
straight
down to where the ribbons weave the holes together; end off.
Repeat
on the other side … this forms a narrower “pocket” to insert the baby.

Make 4 crochet ties
(chain
40, slip stitch back across chain, end off), or make ribbon ties, and
attach
in the following locations: 1 at top of pocket seam on right side of
pocket
(as it faces you), 1 at left corner edge; tie these two together.
Attach 1 at outside of blanket, located where left pocket seam is (tie
it on the inside, though), and 1 at right corner edge of blanket.
Tie these two last, to fold over bunting. (Alternate fastening:
instead
of ties, you can use two buttons; attach one to left side of stitching
for pocket inside bunting and “button” it through the opposite corner
hole
with the bow; then attach other button to “outside” of other side of
pocket
stitching and “button” it through the opposite corner hole with bow).

If baby is small enough,
the
bottom bow can be folded up over feet, and the top bow can be folded
down
over baby’s face if desired.

Note: One could choose to
use
a coordinating color and crochet an edging around the entire blanket to
permanently attach the “pocket” to the back and give it some additional
“lace”, although I chose to leave it with the simple white ribbon
adornment
for a burial bunting. I then added a small preemie hat/bootie set
for baby to wear inside the bunting.